Breech-loading air-gun.



A A. KARCHER.

BREECH LOADING AIR GUN.

APPLICATION mu) JULY 31.1913.

Patented June 15,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-L|THO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. A. KARCHER. BREECH LOADING AIR GUN.

APPLICATION men JULY 31. I913.

Patented June 15, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 THE NORIFUS PETEIEIS 50-. PHO1)-LITHO.. WASHINGMN.*DA C tails and features ARTHUR A. nancnnn, or cnrcneo, ILLINOIS,

or s'r. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, a

ASSIGNOR 130 AMERICAN TOOL WORKS,

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BREECH-LOADING AIR-GUN.

Application filed July 31, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Alf- Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to air guns in general, but more particularly to those for use with projectiles of a certain character, such as darts or other devices of like nature, and especially guns of this kind which are'pro vided with breech loading mecha111sm, 1t being understood that guns for use with projectiles of this kind cannot be loaded at the muzzle, and that it is necessary to insert the dart or other similar projectile at the rear end of the tube forming the barrel of the gun.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved breech loading air gun of the foregoing general character.

A special object is to provlde a novel and improved construction whereby an air gun having inner and uter barrels, the outer barrel being continuous and rigid from one end thereof to the other, can be operated as a breech loader, for the purpose of making the gun suitable for use with darts or other similar projectiles, which cannot be inserted at the muzzle of the gun, and whereby the said projectiles can be inserted in place at the rear end of the inner barrel without the necessity of employing a break or joint in the length of the outer barrel.

Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby an air gun of this character is made operable as a breech loader by providing means for displacing the rear end of the inner barrel through the wall of the outer barrel, thus temporarily bringing the rear end of the inner barrel into position affording access thereto for the purpose of inserting a dart or other projectile therein, the means for thus shifting the inner barrel from normal position being exposed to the hand of the operator, and said means serving also as a closure for the opening in the outer barrel through which the inner barrel is brought into position for loading.

It is also an object to provide certain de A. KAROHER,

Specification of Letters Patent.

a metal washer o of construction tending to Patented June 15, 1915. Serial No: 782,166.

increase the general efficiency and serviceability of an air gun of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 1s a side elevation of an air gun embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the forward portion of the barrel of the gun shown in Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the posi tions of the barrel and the means for displacing the same through the slot in the under side of the outer barrel when it is desired to'insert a dart or other projectile in the rear end of said barrel. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line M4 in Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a section on line 5-5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective of the pivoted lever to the rear end of the inner barrel is connected,

and which forms the closure for the slot in the under side of the barrel.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises an outer barrel A of any suitable form or description, provided in the rear portion thereof with a compression chamber a having a plug a firmly secured in the forward end thereof, which plug comprises a leather washer a and an inner metal washer a, the three washers being provided with a central aperture, and the aperture in the inner washer a being somewhat less in diameter than the two registering apertures in the other two washers. in this compression chamber a plunger B is provided, which plunger is operated by a spring Z the balance of the mechanism for compressing the air in this chamber, when the trigger C is pulled, being of any suitable, known or approved construction. The connections wherebv the pivoted lever D is operative to retract the said plunger may also be of any suitable, known or approved construction.

The inner barrel E is inclosed in the outer end portion of the barrel A, the said outer barrel having its muzzle closed by a fixed washer a provided with a central opening a for the said inner barrel, said opening being surrounded on the inner surface of said washer by a collar M, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The said inwhich 7 ner barrel E is provided with a shoulder e, and with a compression spring 6 said spring being interposed between the sleeve 46 and the saidshoulder, whereby outward movement of the inner barrel serves to compress the said spring. At its rear end the said inner barrel normally extends through the opening in the washers a and a and engages the rim of the somewhat smaller opening in the washer a whereby the washer 0 serves as a sto or abutment against which the rear en of the inner barrel bears, and against which itis normally held by the tension of the said spring. The rear endvof the said barrel is provided with a sheet metal member F which is bent around the barrel, the two end portions of the said member being left upstanding to provide, a; pair of vertically disposed and parallel flanges f, in the manner shown more clearly in-Fig. 6. The lever G is formed from a piece of sheet metal, and is substantially trough shaped in form, its rear end being pivoted to the outer barrel at 9, said outer barrel having itsunder side provided with a longitudinal slot (4 which permits the said lever to assume-the position shown in Fig. 2. The upper and rear corners of the said lever are pivoted to the member Fat 9 the inner ,barrel being disposed within the trough or groove of the said lever and the latter having a forward metal or end portion 9' that bears against the under. side of the barrel when the inner barrel and lever are in normal position. It will be seen that the said inner barrel and operating lever thus provided are yieldingly held in normal position by the compression spring 0 and that in such position the inner barrel is in condition to permit the discharge of the projectile therefrom. As the leverG is fully exposed to the hand of the operator, it follows that its forward handle portiong can be easily grasped and pulled downward to bring the inner barrel into the'p'ositionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It will also be seen that this lever G has its lower side-walls cut away at g to provide an opening through which the projectile can be inserted in the rear end of the inner. barrel, when the parts are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. hen the inner barrel is thus displaced laterally through the side wall of the outer barrel,

2 the said inner barrel moves forwardly or slides endwise in the washer a and the lever G, it will be seen, moves to a position which brings the pivotal point 9 below the pivotal point g, whereby the tension of the spring 6 serves to hold the inner barrel in loading position. Then, when the lever G is moved iupward, the said spring returns the inner barrel and lever to normal position as soon as the pivotal point 9 rises above the plane ofthe pivotal point- 9, the tension 7 of the spring thus serving to hold the inner barrel firmly in place, as well as to hold the handle portion g of said lever firmly against the under side of the outer barrel.

The washer a serves to prevent the endwise movable inner barrel E from moving backward, and the restricted opening in this washer serves also to prevent the dart or other projectile from being sucked backward and into the compression chamber when the plunger G is drawn backward.

Thus, my invention contemplates a breech loading air gun having provisions for permitting the insertion of a dart or other projectile in the rear end of the inner barrel, without the necessity of breaking or jointing the outer barrel, and without the necessity of removing the inner barrel. The inner barrel is simply displaced at its rear end in a lateral direction, to an extent suflicient to bring it into position to permit the insertion of the projectile. llloreover, this is all accomplished in an air gun of the lever action typethat is to say, an air gun in which the lever is employed for drawing back the plunger.

While I have shown and described a breech loading mechanism employing a pivoted lever for displacing the inner barrel through the side of the outer barrel, it is obvious that various changes or modifications can be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention, as a substitute for the said lever, and for this reason I do not limit myself to the use of a lever for operating the inner barrel, nor to the speciiic construction shown and described.

hat I claim as my invention is:

.1. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an'inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel.

2. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the outer barrel and adapted to close said opening when the inner barrel is in operative position.

3. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, said means comprising a movable element for closing said opening when the inner barrel is in operative position.

4. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel,

said means comprising a movable element having an opening for permittmg access to the rear end of said lnner barrel.

5. An air gun comprising an outer barrel,

an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, said outer barrel having a compression chamber from which the rear end of said inner barrel is disconnected by the operation of said means.

6. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, and a support in which the forward portion of said inner barrel is movable endwise to permit said displacement of the rear end thereof.

7. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, and a compression spring for holding theinner barrel and said means in normal position.

8. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, a spring on said barrel, and an abutment against which said spring is compressed when the inner barrel is displaced through said opening.

9. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, said means being operative to move the inner barrel forward.

10. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, and means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, said means being attached to the outer barrel and exposed to the hand of the operator.

11. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel, the outer barrel having an opening, means for displacing the inner barrel through said opening, to permit loading at the rear end of said inner barrel, and means on the inner barrel for engaging the outer barrel to limit the said displacement.

12. An air gun comprising an inner barrel, and an outer barrel having an opening therein, permitting loading at the rear of said inner barrel, the rear end portion of the inner barrel being displaceable through said opening.

13. An air gun comprising an inner barrel, an outer barrel which is rigid throughout the length thereof, provided with a compression chamber and mechanism therein, and having an opening for loading at a point immediately in front of said chamber, the rear end portion of the inner barrel being displaceable through said opening.

14. An air gun comprising an inner barrel, an outer barrel which is rigid throughout the length thereof, provided with a compression chamber and mechanism there in, and having an opening for loading at a point immediately in front of said chamber, said opening permitting the placing of a dart in position for discharge from the gun, the rear end portion of the inner barrel be ing displaceable through said opening.

15. An air gun comprising a barrel which is rigid throughout the length thereof, provided with a compression chamber and mechanism therein, and having an opening for loading at a point immediately in front of said chamber, an inner barrel, and means cooperating with said opening to permit insertion of the projectile at the extreme rear end of said inner barrel, the rear end por tion of the inner barrel being displaceable through said opening.

16. An air gun comprising a barrel which is rigid throughout the length thereof, provided with a compression chamber and mechanism therein, and having an opening for loading at a point immediately in front of said chamber, an inner barrel, and means for shifting the inner barrel relative to said opening, to permit insertion of the projectile at the rear end of said inner barrel, the rear end portion of the inner barrel being displaceable through said opening.

17. An air gun comprising an outer barrel with a fixed closure at the outer end thereof, an inner barrel slidable endwise in said closure, and means for raising and lowering the rear end of said inner barrel.

18. An air gun comprising an outer barrel with a fixed closure at the outer end thereof, an inner barrel slidable endwise in said closure, a spring subject to tension by the endwise motion of said inner barrel, and means for raising and lowering the rear end of said inner barrel. 7

19. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel movable within the outer barrel, and a spring for holding the inner barrel in place, said outer barrel having an opening through which the lower end of said inner barrel is displaced when moved forward.

20. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel movable within the outer barrel, a spring for holding the inner barrel in place, and a lever at the lower side of said outer barrel for displacing the said inner barrel from normal position, said outer barrel having an openingthrough which the lower end of said inner barrel is displaced when moved forward.

21. An air gun comprising an outer barrel with a fixed closure at the outer end thereof, an inner'barrel slidable endwise in said closure, a compression chamber normally connected with the rear end of said inner barrel, but disconnected therefrom by the movement of said inner barrel, and meansffor turning the inner barrel at an angle to the outer barrel for loading purposes.

22. An air gun comprising an outer barrel with a fixed closure at'the outer end thereof, an inner barrel slidable endwise in said closure, a spring subject to tension by the endwise motion of said inner barrel, a compression chamber normally connected with the rear end of said inner barrel, but disconnected therefrom by the movement of said inner barrel, and means for turning the inner barrel at an angle to the outer barrel for loading purposes.

23. An air-gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel movable within the outer barrel, a=spring for holding the inner barrel in place, and a compression chamber normally connected with therear end of said inner; barrel, but disconnected therefrom by the-movement of said inner barrel to a nosition at anangle to said outer barrel.

2%. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel movable within the outer barrel, aspring for holding the inner barrel inplace, ale-ver-at'the lower side of said outer barrel for displacing the said inner barrel from normal position, and a compres sion chamber normally connected with the rear endoi said inner barrel, but disconnected therefrom by the movement of said inner barrel to a position at an angle to said outer barrel.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 28d'day of July 1913.

ARTHUR. A. K ARCHER.

Witnesses:

R. J. RICHARDSON, R. E. SEHNEM.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for fivecents each,-=byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11.6.! 

